Plan 'Flypaper'
A founder member of the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) Louis
Varney G5RV, was one of a select number of Amateurs permitted
to operate during the Second World War.
Only recently have details of the operation been made available and the
CARS President Harry Heap G5HF has provided the following information
that was put together by Bob G3ASE.
In 1945, two unusual operations were carried out. The callsigns G7FA
to G7FJ, (previously unused), were officially allocated to well known
radio amateurs. These included G5KJ (K.Morton Evans), G6GL (G.R.Lee),
G5SR (S.Riesen), G8LT (R.W.Addie) and G5RV (R.L.Varney).
Operating under strict restrictions from 8/10/1944 this "Plan
Flypaper" was intended to trail a coat in front of the Germans
in the radio amateur field. The war was nearing its close and it was thought
that some useful information might arise. Although many foreign amateur
stations were contacted (including of course all the other G7s!) up to
the closedown of Plan Flypaper on 10/6/1945 nothing useful came of it.
Strangely enough, in addition to making contact with several neutral countries,
a number of amateur German callsign stations were 'worked', but whether
these were authentic has not been established.
The second more serious purpose lay in the "Wilton Scheme" which
operated briefly from March to 24 May 1945. It was feared that the Nazis
might use our prisoners of war as hostages and so if we were able to make
radio contact with the prisoners it would enable us to get information
about any ill treatment that might develop.
In various P.O.W. camps, radio amateurs and other radio engineers had
constructed effective receivers and in some cases transmitters (the latter
to be used only in a grave emergency). They had thus been kept informed
of morale boosting events and news in general. Perhaps fortunately no
radio contact was made by the total of 8 G7s who took part.
Memo from Lt Col Morton Evans:
The frequencies which are permitted by the W/T Board are as follows:-
3.5 – 4.0 mc/s
7.0 – 7.3 “
14.0 – 14.4 “
28.0 – 30.0 “
The call-signs permitted for this plan, with details of those already
allotted are as follows:-
G7FA - Lt-Col.K.Morton Evans, R.Sigs.
Hawkshead Farm,
North Mymms, Nr. Hatfield. (Potters Bar 2043)
G7FB - G.R.Lee,
Roundbush House,
Aldenham, Nr Watford (Radlett 6342)
G7FC - S. Riesen,
44 Wood End Road,
Sudbury Hill, Harrow, Mddx. (BYRon 3396)
G7FD A.S. McNicol,
Rosenheath,
Pluscarden Road,
Elgin, Scotland (Elgin 7264)
G7FF W.J. Burton,
96 Church Road,
Richmond, Surrey. (RIChmond 5080)
G7FG H.W. Stacy,
Sandleas,
Eddisbury Road,
West Kirby, Cheshire. (Hoylake 337)
G7FH A.C. Simons,
Windyridge,
Admiralty Road,
Mablethorpe, Lincs. Mablethorpe 69)
G7FI Captain R.W. Addie,
C/o P.O. Box25,
Barnet, Herts. (Barnet 6500)
G7FJ Captain R.L. Varney,
Arnold Cottage,
Old Stratford,
Bletchley, Bucks. (Stony Stratford 2158)
G5FJ Not allocated
G7FK ”
G7FL “
G7FM “
RULES FOR OPERATING PLAN FLYPAPER
1. Ordinary amateur procedure will be used with a few exceptions noted
below.
2. Each station must stick to its allotted call-sign.
3. the frequencies used must be those agreed by the W/T Board, as given
on the attached sheet.
4. Power not to exceed 50 watts..
5. So far as possible stations in densely populated areas should be avoided
so as to minimise complaints from the public and in all cases steps must
be taken to reduce key clicks.
6. CO de G7F- calls will be used . The word “TEST” will not
be used.
7. There will be no time restriction, but the operators taking part will
obviously have to make arrangements between themselves and through a central
control. In particular it is intended to have a round table G contact
on Sunday at 11 a.m. (BST). Whichever operator is acting as control will
call CQG de G7F- and will make contact with each other operator in turn
and then put all stations in contact with one another successively.
8. No German amateur will ever be called but if a German amateur calls
one of the network, he will be answered. Contact with enemy stations should
be kept as possible consistent with the use of ham chat. In particular
such expressions as “dear O.B.”, and “73’s”
should be avoided; also such phrases as “tks for the FB QSO”.
It must be remembered that our network admits that it is officially controlled
(see below) and as such is bound to be subject to regulations and monitoring.
9. In the event of anyone asking for QRA, only the county shall be given
as a reply.
10. There must be no third party traffic and no personal messages which
can possibly give the indication of the identity, occupation or address
of the sender, nor even any expression which could confirm the county
as permitted to be given in paragraph 9. Operators should endeavour to
avoid mannerisms which might enable listeners to identify them as pre-war
amateurs.
11. In the event of an operator asking for a QSL the reply to be given
is “Sorry cannot QSL”.
12. In the event of any station asking one of our group whether his station
is licensed (or any similar phrase), the reply to be made is “Here
O.K. official station”. The word licensed is not to be used in this
connection.
13. No “handles”, i.e. personal names or nick-names are to
be used.
14. Stations must close down if requested by any service or authorised
station. It must be appreciated that the activity of this group is absolutely
the last radio priority on the air.
15. .The subject of the weather is completely banned. If one of the group
is asked about the weather he must reply “not allowed”.
16. There must be no reference to enemy action, such as bombs, bomb damage,
planes, air-raid warnings or the like, either directly or indirectly.
Equally there must be no reference to the passage of allied planes, troops
or convoy movements etc. In fact, the full principles of Signal Security
must not be lost sight of.
17. The traffic between stations can include discussions on radio conditions,
equipment, aerials and the usual chat of this kind. If any of the stations
are using special service equipment they must devise a notional set to
describe, if questioned.
18. In discussing radio conditions, no reference whatever must be made
to the conditions for receiving any stations other than those of known
amateurs.
19. A log must be kept showing the date, time , frequency and call-sign
of any station called whether contact is made or not. It is not necessary
when working within the group to keep a log of the actual traffic passed,
but anything unusual should be noted in case a private or foreign station
comes up using one of our allotted call-signs.
20. In the event of a station coming up using a G call-sign even one of
the G7 series – the station is to be worked and no comment made.
The station might well be in enemy territory and using a G call-sign as
camouflage. The incident is to be reported as soon as possible by telephone
to the control as explained in paragraph23.
21. In general the reply to any question over the air or otherwise as
to the nature of our stations is to be to the effect that “this
is an official station permitted to use amateur calls and procedure. It
is operating for practice purposes.
22. No R/T will be used in any circumstances.
23. In the event of any enemy station calling one of our group and offering
a message to a third party or a Government department the message should
be accepted and acknowledged and the enemy station should be instructed
to come on the air at the same time next day or as convenient but not
within 24 hours.
The information should be passed to the officer controlling the group
at the usual telephone number or if at night-time to the Duty Officer.
It will facilitate quick recognition if it is explained that the telephone
call concerns “Plan Flypaper”.
A log of the contact including the message should be sent at the earliest
possible moment to the group control.
Summaries of the logs giving times, dates and frequencies of all contacts
should be posted early each week to the group control.
Secret
PLAN FLYPAPER
(R. S. S. Representatives).
It is proposed to discontinue the "round table”, contact on
7 mc/s on Sunday mornings as conditions are not satisfactory, and now
that nearly all stations are active, a lot of time may be wasted. You
are, however, urged to operate on Sunday mornings and attempt to work
as many British stations an possible.
It is also thought that the 3,5 megacycle band may really be more important
for the main purposes of the plan, since European signals can often be
well received in the nights. Therefore, all members are urged to use this
band as much as possible. It is proposed that 1800 GMT should be regarded
as a favourable time for G stations, as well as later in the evening,
and on Sundays efforts should be made to have Inter-G contacts on this
band at 1800 GMT. It in thought that the best frequency range is between
3570 and 3600, but there is no reason why you should not go above 3.6
if this should become necessary. At a later date a CQ G series may be
attempted on thin band.
One other point has arisen, which is the question of making QRXs with
D stations. Under your instructions you are forbidden to call German stations.,
and this morally rules out making a QRX. It is thought, therefore that
you should avoid making appointments with D stations unless there are
apparently exceptional reasons and a report should then be sent in as
soon as possible. This does not necessarily apply to other enemy controlled
stations such as Has.
For your guidance, CT1AX is known to be in Germany and it seems probably
that C3TIAZ is also a German station. You should of course, behave when
working these stations as it they were genuine Portuguese, but it is well
to bear in mind that some funny games may be going on.
Although so far the hoped for reaction has not taken place, in that
no one wishing to communicate with the British Government has used you,
it is felt that the scheme should be continued for an indefinite time.
You should bear in mind, however, that unless careful listening is done,
it will be difficult for such stations to get hold of you and they may
also be somewhat deterred if they only hear you working a string of genuine
German stations.
It remains to thank you for your continued efforts in this plan and
to apologise for the fact that you do not get a great deal of guidance
from this Headquarters. However, each member has shown such initiative
and determination to maintain a high standard of security end operating
that the present arrangements seen to be quite adequate.
16.12.44 KME/MAI Copies to: G7FA G7FD G7FG G7FH G7FI
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